I really love what The Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences has been doing lately with their Academy Originals series of videos which take a look at the art and stories behind the making of the movies we love. The latest video features Casting director Marci Liroff (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Mean Girls) recounting the story of how Henry Thomas was cast as the lead in Steven Spielberg‘s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

As it turns out, Thomas was not the first choice for the role of Elliot. Liroff describes how a game of Dungeons & Dragons at screenwriter Melissa Mathison (who is finally returning to screenwriting for Spielberg’s adaptation of The BFG) changed the corse of a cinema classic, leading to the audition video I’m sure you’ve seen before. Hit the jump to watch the video now.

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Steven Spielberg‘s Lincoln is fast approaching, which means soon we’ll hear all the obligatory quotes from the man himself about Indiana Jones 5, Robopocalypse, Jurassic Park 4, Tintin 2 and whatever other movies he’s been attached to or talked about over the years. Two movies that likely won’t be mentioned are Ben Affleck’s Argo and Sam Mendes’ Skyfall, both of which be in theaters at the same time. Maybe they should be, though, because each has an interesting, outside connection to the popular filmmaker.

Ben Affleck’s character in Argo, Tony Mendez, recently recounted the entire ordeal dramatized in that film and revealed that one of the scripts his fictional production company received was written by none other than Steven Spielberg. Then, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli addressed Spielberg’s very vocal desire to direct a James Bond film in a new interview. Read the details about each, and watch an old E.T. audition that’s currently making the rounds, after the jump. Read More »

Those of you following along will recall that we posted a fan created trailer for E.T. 2 in Friday’s edition of Page 2. That trailer was a mash-up of scenes from Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and E.T.

Christopher Campbell has discovered another fan created E.T. sequel trailer – this one is longer, more-fleshed out and better edited. Created by Robert Blankenheim and Derek Johnson Productions, the faux movie titled “ET-X: Extinction” and uses clips of grown up Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas, as well as clips from other alien invasion and disaster movies — featuring an all star ensemble cast which includes Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis and President Obama. Trust me, you want to check this one out. Watch the trailer now embedded after the jump. I’ve also included the War of the Worlds/ET mash-up for those who missed it.

I just saw this video on my twitter feed, tweeted by Mike Gaines (who some of you know as the mastermind behind the scenes of the Totally Rad Show), of Henry Thomas‘ audition for E.T.. I know I must have seen this clip before on the DVD release, but I wanted to share it with you guys. For me the best part is what director Steven Spielberg says following Henry’s moving audition (something you just don’t get from many child actors these days). Watch the video clip after the jump.